Dark Clouds

Sylvanas knew she had just fought a major war. The bells ringing in Shattrath City now signified its end. The Draenei music sounded more mournful than the Elf. It wasn't a welcome back to the returning Shattrath Alliance, but rather a unique rhythm that allowed weary hearts, exhausted from their long journey, to find rest.

The Female Elf had already sent messengers back to Shattrath to report the victory in the Netherstorm —she had defeated Kael'thas and thwarted the Blood Elf Prince's plot. Today, she returned to the City of the Holy Light in glory. As she strode along the main bridge of Shattrath towards the Terrace of Light, countless crowds of different races lined the road to welcome her, erupting in cheers and applause. Sylvanas accepted all the praise and gratitude with ease, but her thoughts were entirely on Adal. The crowd, however, seemed to demand no response from her to this welcoming ceremony.

Amidst the Netherstorm, a soft singing voice reached her ears, and the Naaru knew she had won. She seemed to hear Adal's instructions. As she bent down to pick up the emerald Fel Orb from Kael'thas Sunstrider's corpse, Sylvanas wondered what secret it held. Perhaps the Naaru of Shattrath City knew the truth.

The troops following behind her were just as eager as she was to see Naaru.

The closer Sylvanas got to the Terrace of Light, the less tired she became; her energy was returning. When she saw Adal, several familiar faces were also there. Archmage Khadgar stood below Adal. Vortar and Ishana greeted their respective departing soldiers.

"Welcome back, madam," Khadgar said.

Sylvanas nodded slightly and walked the rest of the way. "I will never rejoice over this victory. Kael'thas's crimes will surely bring shame upon our race."

"But your actions will surely dispel the Horde's suspicions about the Blood Elf," Khadgar continued. "Although... you are from Theramore."

"I have left my people with no way out." Sylvanas shook her head, but she almost smiled as she thought about the trouble her actions would cause Alleria. "That doesn't matter anymore. What I had to do is done."

"I sense you still have doubts. Is there anything I can help you with?" The voice came from Adal. Sylvanas looked up, momentarily uneasy.

"Let me see that Fel Orb."

Sylvanas hesitated for a moment, then took out the emerald green Fel Orb. A melodious sound filled the air as Adal chanted an incantation, as if trying to extract something from the Fel Orb.

The Female Elf took a deep breath, feeling Adal's thoughts intertwining with her own.

'The emerald green Fel Orb is eerie.'

'This belongs to Kael'thas. He carried it with him for many years; it was one of the tools he used to launch attacks.'

Their minds were communicating. But the tension in Adal's voice didn't ease despite Sylvanas's explanation. The Female Elf was seeing the Naaru for the second time; she had always assumed Naaru were peaceful and holy. Now, however, Adal sounded like a frightened child, his words fragmented and hesitant.

'Do you know he's still alive?'

"What? How is this possible?" The shocked exclamation came out of her mouth, the action more like that of a young girl than the composed lady Sylvanas was now.

"No..." She looked at the glittering Naaru and could no longer speak.

"What happened?" Vortar asked. But Khadgar stopped him; the Archmage knew that Sylvanas and the Naaru were having a mental conversation.

'Yes. It's inside this Fel Orb. He's injured. He's summoning something more powerful.'

"My sword pierced his heart. He couldn't possibly be alive!" The Female Elf pulled out Quel'delar; she could still smell the blood on the blade. Kael'thas closed his eyes, his body motionless. "Whom is he summoning?" Sylvanas asked hastily. She hadn't encountered any enemy reinforcements during the Battle of Tempest Keep. The only one she could think of was the Lord of Outland. "Illidan?"

"No, not Illidan," Adal denied. "More terrifying than Illidan. Kil'jaeden the Deceiver is coming. Not here, but Azeroth... somewhere unknown."

The answer came so suddenly that Sylvanas was momentarily stunned. Kil'jaeden the Deceiver, one of the leaders of the Burning Legion, he was coming? He was going to descend upon Azeroth? How could this be?

Sylvanas was about to ask Adal to explain more clearly when the orb suddenly burst into flames, lost control, and flew away from Adal, swirling around in front of everyone and drawing a pattern resembling a bull's head.

"What is this?" Priestess Ishana covered her face in surprise with her hands. She, Vortar, Khadgar, and everyone else except Sylvanas went on alert and slowly moved closer to Adal.

Then, a scene that shocked everyone appeared: a figure emerged from the pattern. Sylvanas knew him all too well; the fallen Prince she had recently killed was now before her eyes. Even though it was just a phantom, his red robes still revealed his most dazzling appearance.

"Kael'thas?" Archmage Khadgar uttered his name with a puzzled expression, and like Prophet Vortar, they both looked at Sylvanas.

The Female Elf said he was dead, but what was going on? They needed an answer from Sylvanas, but the same shocked expression on her face showed that she didn't know either.

"It's been a long time, Khadgar!" Kael'thas laughed loudly, each surprised expression on the faces of those present only fueling his amusement. "Surprised, aren't you..." He glanced at Sylvanas, a disdainful smile on his face. "Did you really think I would gamble everything on Tempest Keep?" He laughed again, utterly unrestrained. "You've merely occupied a worthless fortress. Your victory is meaningless. Witness the power of Kil'jaeden! You will drown in your own blood! No one will escape my vengeance."

His voice echoed around them, then vanished with him. The Fel Orb fell to the ground, losing its luster, yet it still drew everyone's attention.

After a long silence, Khadgar broke it. "The Elf Prince never speaks empty words." He turned to Adal. "We need your guidance, great Naaru."

Others also looked to Adal, hoping to find solace in the radiance of the Naaru.

"Dark clouds are gathering, Kil'jaeden is coming. Rest well, we must prepare for the final battle."

"Summoning Kil'jaeden won't be easy," Khadgar pointed out, as Sylvanas picked up the Fel Orb from the ground. "Since we don't know Kael'thas's specific plans, we can't defend against him. I suggest we deal with the Outland problem first. News just came from Zangarmarsh that Serpentshrine Cavern has fallen, and the only threat standing in our way... is the Shadowmoon Temple."